Majyd Aziz, Former President of the Employers Federation of Pakistan, proposed that along with Agriculture, Mining, and Information Technology, the Blue Economy should be a vital priority and focus of the Special Investment Facilitation Council. The Blue Economy is also indigenous, and Pakistan has over 1000 km of coastline. Blue Economy is an ocean-oriented sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihood, and creating job opportunities. He spoke at the COLMAB 2024 (Conference on Logistics, Maritime Affairs, and Blue Economy) in Karachi.
Majyd Aziz added that Pakistan’s share in world exports in the Blue Economy is just 0.25%, the minimum in the global export market. However, Pakistan needs to immediately improve and modernize the Fishery Sector through the adoption of the latest technology, equipment, and processes. Under the blue economy, Pakistan can also promote renewable energy, maritime transport, and tourism.
Mr. Majyd informed that during his tenure as President of the EFP, the EFP Economic Council identified several key factors contributing to this mire state. These included persistent use of conventional fishing methods, unmonitored overfishing by large industrial trawlers, dilapidated fish storage and processing infrastructure at harbors, and failed coordination between Federal and Provincial Fisheries Authorities.
He also stated that during his tenure as President (UN), Global Compact Network Pakistan became a partner with Maritime Anti-Corruption Network Denmark to sensitize, advise, and motivate Port users to eliminate or minimize corruption in the Maritime Sector. To the credit of both organizations, all stakeholders agreed to achieve this objective from a common platform.
Majyd Aziz proposed that the Port charges should be bifurcated into local, that is, those incurring Port costs such as salaries of port personnel, maintenance, repairs, etc., and foreign outlay, where foreign exchange is needed. This would save billions in handling soybean, rapeseed, canola, wheat, coal, etc., for exporters, importers, and the government.
He also advised the Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, that most Boards of Trustees of KPT and PQA should be nominated by Port users rather than appointing irrelevant persons, instead on political basis or their high profile. Moreover, the Chairmen of both Boards should be from the private sector.
